Flagstaff.



0 L. McCORMACK.

FLAGSTAFF.

, APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29. 918.

Patented Apr. 29,1919.

(litmus ORLIFFL. M'GCORMACK, OF NOR-WOOD, OHIO.

' FLAGSTAFF.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 29, 11919.

Application filed June 29, 1918. Serial No. 242,574..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORLIFF L; MoCoR- MACK, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Norwood, in the county of Hamilton and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flagstaffs,of which the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improve ments in flagstaifs and hasrelation more particularly to a device of this general characterparticularly designed and adapted for use in connection with signalflags as em-- ployed in the Army, and it is an object of the inventionto provide a novel and improved fiagstaff consisting of a plurality ofrelatively movable sections whereby the st-aif, when not in use, may becollapsed to occupy a. minimum of space and whereby the device is ofparticular importance for use by troops in active service or inmaneuvers as the staff may be readilycarried by a soldier in his pocket,haversack, or a pouch attached to his belt and thereby eliminating thetrouble caused by an otherwise bulky kit catching on fences, wireentanglements, orthe like.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device ofthis generalcharacter having novel and improved means for attaching a flag to thehandle portion of the stafl whereby the flag is prevented from wrappingaround the handle when the device is in use.

Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide a noveland improved fiagstaff comprising a plurality'of telescopically engagedsections adapted to be held by friction in extended relation and whereincap members are engageable with the opposite end portions of one of saidsections or the handle section for holding the sections in collapsedrelation. I

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thearrangement and combination of the several parts of my improvedfiagstaff whereby certain important advantages are attained and thedevice rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenientand advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly insection of a flagstaff constructed in accordance with an embodiment ofmy invention and in extended adjustment;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sec tional view taken through myimproved flagstafi' with the sections thereof compacted and the head inelevation, and

Fig. 3 is a view in top plan of the annular member or ring which looselyengages theffhandle or butt end section of the flagsta As disclosedinthe accompanying drawings, 1 denotes the handle or butt end sec tion ofmy improved flagstafi'. This section 1 is hollow and open at oppositeends. Engageable with the outer end portion thereof is the cap 2provided, preferably at its axial center, with a restricted opening 3for a purpose to be hereinafter referred to. The opposite end portion ofthe section 1, is reduced to afford a sleeve 1 and an annular shoulder5.

Surrounding the inner portion of the section 1, is the annular member orring 6, fixed thereto and loosely surrounding the section 1 andpositioned between the member or ring 6 and the cap 2, is the annularmember or ring 7, provided with an outstanding loop or eye 8 with whichis adapted to be engaged a corner portion of a flag. As the member orring 7 is capable of rotary movement independently of the section 1 andvice versa it will at once be self evident that the flag will not wraparound the section 1, when the device is in use. It will also beunderstood that the member or ring 7, and the cap 2, will serve to holdthe member or ring 6, against displacement from the section 1.

Telescopically engaged with the section 1, is an'intermediate section 9which has its inner end defined by the outstanding annular flange 10adapted to engage the shoulder 5, whereby the outward movement of thesection 9 relative to the section 1 is limited. It will also beunderstood that when the section 9 is extended the sleeve 4 willfriction ally engage the periphery of the section 9 and thereby holdsaid section 9 in extended position.

The section 9 is also hollow and open at opposite ends with the outerend portion thereof reduced to conform to the sleeve 11 and the annularshoulder 12. A second intermediate section 1a is telescopically engagedwith the section 9 and is of a former construction similar to thesection 9. The outward movement of the section 14 relative to thesection 9, is limited by the flange 10'" of said section 14 contactingwith the shoulder 1:2 of the section 9. It will also be understood thatthe sleeve 11 of the section 9, will frictionally engage the peripheryof the section 14 to maintain said section 14 extended.

Telescopically engaged with the section 14L is an outer section 15 alsohollow and open at opposite ends. The inner end of the section 15 isprovided with an outstanding annular flange 10 which contacts with theshoulder 12" arranged adjacent the outer end portion of the section. 14.The sleeve 11 of the section 14, outwardly of the shoulder 1?,frictionally engages the periphery of the section 15, for maintainingthe same extended.

l6 denotes a cylindrical head provided at the axial center of its innerfaces with a lug or finger 17 adapted to snugly fit within the ,outerend portion of the section 15 and the diameter of the inner end portionof the head 16 is such as to permit said inner end portion to fit snuglywithin the outer end portion of the section 1, when the several sectionsof the staff are collapsed. It is also preferred that the periphery ofthe head 16 be provided with an annular groove or channel 18 to affordmeans whereby the flag may be effectively secured to said head althoughit is to be understood that the flag, if desired, may be suitablysecured to the outer end portion of the section 15. It is also desiredto have the peripheral portion of the head 16 outwardly of the groove orchannel 18, knurled, as indicated at 19, so that said head may bemanipulated with greater facility in applying or removing the same withrespect to the sections 1 or 15.

As is particularly illustrated inFig. 2, the sections 9, 14, and 15 aresubstantially the same length but of a length less than the length ofthe section 1 so that when the staff is collapsed the sections 9, 14:,and 15 are completely housed within the section 1. It is also to beparticularly noted in Fig. 2 that the head 16 when engaged within theouter end portion of the section 1 contacts with the outer end portionsof the sections 9, 14, and 15, whereby said sections are held againstvibration so that the maintenance of the staff in collapsed relation isfacilitated.

It is to be understood that the collapsing or compacting of the sections1, 9, 14: and 15, is materiitlly facilitated by the opening 3hereinbefore referred to as said opening serves to prevent thecompression of air Within said sections when the same are moved inwardlyone relative to the other.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that aflagstaif constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my inventionis particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it Will also beobvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modificationwithout departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for thisreason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precisearrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carryingout my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A flagstafl' comprising a plurality of telescoping sections, an endsection being of a length greater than the remaining sections and havingits outerend closed, said remaining sections being substantially thesame length, and a head engaged with the outer end portion of the secondend section and engageable within the inner end portion of the firstnamed end section for maintaining the sections in compacted relation,said head when engaged within the inner end portion of the first namedsection contacting with the outer end portions of the remainingsections. 1

2. A fiagstafi comprising a plurality of telescoping sections, an endsection being of a length greater than the remaining sections and havingits outer end closed, and a head engaged with the outer end portion ofthe. second end section and engageable within the inner end portion ofthe first named section for maintaining the sectionsin compactedrelation.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

ORLIFF L. McCOR-MAOK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0

